No Silly Questions?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

So my nursing student and I were getting report on a 25yo female trauma patient from an ER nurse. My student was from a private all girls catholic college. I have had a bunch of them and they tend to be wicked smart, but not, let's say, wise in the ways of the world. So anyway the ER nurses says "and she has a cervical fracture" then pauses, clearly trying to remeber which cervical vertebra is fractured when my 20 year old nursing student jumps in with:

"HOW DID SHE FRACTURE HER CERVIX!!?"

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I wouldn't call that a silly question. More an "I forgot to think before I spoke because I was nervous" question. I could very easily see myself blurting out the same thing under pressure.

"HOW DID SHE FRACTURE HER CERVIX!!?"

When I first started having problems with my neck last year I went to the community health center's convenient care clinic on a Saturday. They have MA's there and I knew right from the start she wasn't too bright when she kept insisting I step on the scale so she can weigh me because she had to. Problem was I had a cast on my ankle and on crutches. After receiving a "you're kidding" look from me and having to explain that there was no way I was going to be able to jump on that scale so she cab weight me she said okay let's skip it. I couldn't believe how stupid she was.

Then in the examining room I explained to her what was going on-that I had been to the ER and they said I had a cervical sprain. I forgot what I said that finally tipped her off that it was my neck but she suddenly laughs and says that she was wondering how I could have a cervical sprain and now she undertood. Dense, stupid, whatever you want to call it. I can give her a pass on the cervical sprain to some degree but insisting I get on the scale so she can weight me while in a cast and on crutches-that's just stupidity.

Specializes in ICU.

If it were possible to break one's cervix, I imagine it would be called a "cervical fracture."

Specializes in Orthopaedic Nursing; Geriatrics.

Oh, I teach a CNA class for teenagers! I have heard some very stupid questions - not this one yet though!

Specializes in NICU.

In the NICU, talking with a student about respiratory distress in the newborn. Student asks "And how does the infant breathe in utero?"

Ummm,

Well,

Everyone makes mistakes! And not everyone thinks before they spill words out ! Don't take comments/ questions to heart! I am sure you have messed up before ad you will in the future ! We're humans and we make mistakes! Yes , some comments are funny and make you laugh but it doesn't mean that person has no knowledge whatsoever! That person might be super smart! Just my opinion :)

Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

So is a cervical fx the same as breaking your hymen?

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